Also in August, Canada’s Para Soccer team as well as Canada’s men’s national team will be in camp, with the latter assembling at the end of the month before what will be a busy September for Canada’s two national “A” teams.

Already in 2010, Canada has held national camps for five different youth age teams – men’s U-20, men’s U-17, women’s U-20, women’s U-18, and women’s U-17. The addition of two U-15 teams – girls in early August and boys later this year – marks seven different national youth teams in 2010.

Add in the activity for the men’s full national, men’s U-23/Olympic, women’s full national and Para-Soccer teams, that makes 11 different national soccer teams in play this 2010 season.

Following this week’s BMO National Championships Nutrilite All Stars, Canada’s men’s U-17 team will assemble in Sherbrooke under head coach Sean Fleming. The players will be selected directly from the competition and remain in Sherbrooke from 25 July to 1 August. This team is in its early preparations for the 2011 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship.

Also following the weekend, Canada’s women’s U-17 team will hold its next camp in Santiago, Chile under head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. The camp runs 25 July to 3 August. This team has already won the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship (March in Costa Rica) and is currently preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010 (September 2010).

At the end of July, Canada’s women’s U-15 team will group in Sunrise, FL, USA under coach David Benning. This camp will run 30 July to 9 August. Finally, Canada’s men’s U-20 team will meet in Spain for a camp and competition from 9-21 August. The men’s U-20 team is coached by Valerio Gazzola.

Men’s International Friendlies
In September, Canada’s men’s national team will host two Men’s International Friendly matches – 4 September against Peru in Toronto and 7 September against Honduras in Montréal. Tickets to both matches are available now (Toronto via Ticketmaster / 416.872.5000 / ticketmaster.ca; Montréal via Admission / 1.800.361.4595 / Admission.com). Canada’s women’s national team, meanwhile, will face reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Germany on 15 September in Germany.

Canadian soccer style should be somewhere in between
Canada’s women’s under-17 team qualified yesterday for this year’s FIFA’s World U17 World Championships in Trinidad and Tobago with a win in penalty kicks over the favoured United States in the semi-final stage of the CONCACAF soccer championship.

To say it is unexpected would be an understatement.

There was no preparation of any significance going into such an important tournament. Ian Bridge, the original head coach of the team, resigned a month before the event was to get underway on the heels of Canada’s under-20 team failing to qualify for their own world championships.They played an opponent which had scored outscored its competition in three previous games by a margin of 32-0.

Head coach Bryan Rosenfeld deserves huge credit for this achievement.

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It marks the second-straight time that Canada has qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. It also marks the first time that USA has been stopped from qualifying for the FIFA women’s competition at any level.

“I am happy for us to have qualified for the World Cup, we are all ecstatic,” said head coach Bryan Rosenfeld.

Canada’s five scorers from the penalty mark were Alison Clarke, Diamond Simpson, Yazmin Ongtengco, Nicole Setterlund and Chantale Campbell. USA ’s Morgan Brian, Abigail Dahlkemper and Havana Solaun all scored on their opportunities, but third shooter Clarissa Wedemeyer missed on her chance.

For the semi-final stage of the competition, Canada unveiled a brand new formation and lineup to oppose the heavily-favoured USA. The starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund from left to right along the back, debutan Kinley McNicoll and recovered Ally Courtnall as the left and right backs, Diamond Simpson, Nour Ghoneim and Chantal Campbell from left to right in the midfield, and Haillie Price and Haisha Cantave up front.

“Our game plan going into the match was to contain them as much we could,” said Rosenfeld. “We focused on keeping their flank play in check and not letting them create chances up the middle. We wanted to catch them on a break or a counter attack. We created opportunities to score this way in the match. USA is an excellent team to have overcome, its unfortunate that such a quality team will not be going to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”

Canada went closest to opening the scoring in an entertaining first half. The opening 20 minutes in particular were played at a torrid pace as both teams tried to score the all-important opening goal.

The USA, who had dominated its three group matches at the competition, were put on alert that Canada offered a different challenge inside the opening five minutes. Canada’s forwards ran at the USA defenders and put them under pressure at all times.

USA did register the first clear chance on goal as Canadian goalkeeper D’Angelo was caught off her line following a blocked clearance attempt. Fortunately for Canada, the Canadian defence reacted well and blocked two goal-bound attempts as D’Angleo scampered back into her goal.

Canada had the best chance of the first half, hitting the crossbar in the 20th minute. Price made a great run in the box and had a good shot stopped by USA goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin. The rebound however, bounced off a defender and onto the crossbar before Heaberlin could cover it just in front of the goal line.

Clear scoring chances were at a premium in the second half as both teams presented well organized defensive formations. USA carried the majority of the possession throughout the half but was unable to break Canada ‘s defensive unit which was expertly marshaled by captain Setterlund.

Simpson was called upon to make a vital intervention in the 51st minute to knock the ball away from an USA attacker who was in an excellent scoring position.

In the 65th minute a long diagonal cross found USA forward Smith alone in the Canadian box but she failed to capitalize, sending her header wide of the goal.

Canada fashioned the best chance of match for either side in the 81st minute. A series of quick passes found Beaulne at the edge of the USA penalty area and after taking a touch to create space she rolled the ball through the USA defence to the on-rushing McNicoll. McNicoll hit a hard low shot which was stopped by Heaberlin.

The McNicoll chance was as close as either side would come to winning the match in regular time as the match moved into extra time.

USA came out flying to start the first period of extra time. In the 93rd minute, it had its best chance of the match. USA forward Smith escaped the Canadian defence for a breakaway from just inside Canada ‘s half. Smith raced in on goal, but goalkeeper D’Angelo was up to the task as she got an arm to Smith’s low shot.

Much of the remainder of the two extra time periods passed without incident. A brief burst of end-to-end action just before the end of the second period of extra time came to nothing and the match headed to kicks from the penalty mark.

Canada has now qualified for both FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups. Two years ago, it reached the quarter-final stage of New Zealand 2008 while USA won a silver medal. This time, Canada returns with hopes of improving on that 7th place finish at Trinidad and Tobago 2010. Before it does, however, it will play in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship final this Saturday 20 March.

Penalty Summary
CAN Clarke (goal), Simpson (goal), Ongtengco (goal), Setturlund (goal), Campbell (goal)
USA Brian (goal), Dahlkemper (goal), Wedemeyer (high), Solaun (goal)

CANADA Lineup
18-Sabrina D’Angelo; 5-Haillie Price (19-Abigail Raymer, 53), 6-Yazmin Ongtengco, 11-Alison Clarke, 17-Alexandra Courtnall (3-Sabrina Hemond, 87); 4-Chantal Campbell, 12-Nicole Sutterlund (Capt), 13-Kinley McNicoll; 8-Diamond Simpson, 10-Nour Ghoneim, 16-Haisha Cantave (9-Caroline Beaulne, 53)

Subs not used: 1-Rachel Beanlands, 7-Kylie Davis, 15-Shannen Jainudeen, 20-Zakia McIntosh
Not Eligible: 2-Sophie Therien, 14-Katherine Caverly,
Head coach: Bryan Rosenfield

USA Lineup
1-Bryane Heaberlin; 6-Olivia Brannon, 3-Abby Dahlkemper (Capt.), 2-Jaelene Hinkle; 5-Kaili Torres (16-Cari Roccaro, 87), 11-Clarissa Wedemeyer, 10-Morgan Brian, 8-Kaysie Clark, 7-Alex Doll; 12-Taylor Smith (25-Ashley Spivey, 111), 13-Lindsey Horan (9-Havana Solaun, 84)

Subs not used: 4-Laura Liedle, 14-Cassie Pecht, 15-Isabel Farrell, 18-Abby Smith
Not Eligible: 19-Jennifer Gonzalez, 24-Caroline Stanley
Head Coach: Kazbek Tambi

Statistical Summary USA/CAN
Shots: 13/6
Shots on Goal: 7/4
Saves: 4/7
Corner Kicks: 5/3
Fouls: 10/10
Offside: 4/0

Canada fell 0:1 to Mexico in the final group match of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. With both sides already qualified for the semi-final stage, Mexico won first place in the group thanks to a first-half goal by Anakaren Llamas off a free kick in the 42nd minute.

The outcome means Canada will face USA in the semi-final stage on Thursday 18 March while Mexico will face Costa Rica in the other semi-final match on that same day. The two semi-final winners not only advance to the confederation final on 20 March, but also qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

For this third match of the competition, coach Rosenfeld was forced to make one change to his starting lineup from two nights earlier because of an injury to defender Katherine Caverly. For the match against Mexico, Canada’s starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Sophie Thérien at left back, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund at centre back, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen at right back, Chantale Campbell, Kylie Davis and Diamond Simpson at midfield, and Caroline Beaulne, Nour Ghoneim and Haisha Cantave up front.

The match started with both sides looking to maintain possession, but neither able to build much offence. Canada won a free kick and a corner kick in the first 15 minutes; Mexico countered with one of each over the next few minutes. In the 26th minute, Ghoneim made a good run to win Canada ’s second corner kick; one minute later, Mexico won its second corner kick at the other end.

For Canada, Chantale Campbell did well to win several challenges in the midfield. On defence, captain Setterlund made a great run back in the 28th minute to neutralize a Mexican run. In the 31st minute, it was centre back Alison Clarke outmuscling two Mexicans in the midfield and pushing forward past two more to get the ball in deep.

Through 45 minutes, neither side could keep it deep to sustain much in terms of offence. It was as such a split play that put Mexico up 1-0 before the half. On a free kick from 35 yards out, debutan Llamas struck her shot over D’Angelo and under the crossbar for the first goal of the match.

Before the start of the second half, coach Rosenfeld made his first change, replacing striker Cantave with the tall Haillie Price who came in to make her competition debut. Price played high up front in between Ghoneim and Beaulne.

Canada’s second substitution came in the 57th minute as Davis came off in favour of Sabrina Hémond. Midfielder Hémond, who scored in the opening match against Jamaica , was making her third entry in three matches.

Canada’s third and final substitution came just seven minutes later as right back Ally Courtnall made her return to the pitch for the first time since the opening match four nights earlier. Thérien came off and Ongtengco-Hintzen switched from the right side to left side so that Courtnall could take her natural position at right back.

In the second half, Canada did start to make some runs forward. In the 59th minute, Thérien played a ball through that Price nearly caught before Mexican goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago covered up. In the 65th minute, Ghoneim tried but couldn’t get a foot on a shot that might have been danger were it struck on target. In the 68th minute, Courtnall made her first run down the right side.

In the 71st minute, Simpson made a good push forward to win Canada its fifth corner kick of the game.

Just before the corner kick, Mexico made the first of two quick changes. It made its second change one minute later in the 72nd minute. Substitution number three came 16 minutes later in the 88th minute.

As the match drew near its end, Canada had two wonderful chances in the 86th minute following coach Rosenfeld’s decision to move Courtnall off the wing and up as an extra attacker in the middle. Simpson was again the catalyst as she won her challenge in the box and pushed the ball through the six-yard box. No Canadian could get a touch on the ball to put it in.

On the ensuing corner kick, the ball again returned dangerously into the Mexican box, with this time Setterlund trying to force her way ahead of goalkeeper Santiago’s cover up.

Canada maintained good possession late in the game, but would not find the equalizing goal against Mexico . The match closed out with Mexico the victor on the Llamas free-kick goal.

Canada finished second in group play with two wins and one loss. It advances to the semi-final stage for a date with USA on Thursday 18 March. That one match will decide Canada’s entry to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

The victory guaranteed Canada a spot in the semi-final stage against either USA or Costa Rica . Both group winners will be determined in the next two days, with Costa Rica facing USA on Sunday 14 March and Canada facing Mexico on Monday 15 March.

“I am pleased with the fact that we take away a result which puts us into the semi-final stage,” said national head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. “The team also has to take away a big learning lesson that it has to respect the opponent, regardless of what their past scores may have been.”

Panama was much improved following an 0:6 loss to Mexico on the opening day. Still, Panama’s performance was not enough on this day to advance to the semi-final stage. Both Panama and Jamaica (which lost 0:3 to Mexico) were eliminated from group play with their second-straight losses.

For Canada’s second match of the competition, coach Bryan Rosenfeld’s starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Katherine Caverly at left back, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund at centre back, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen at right back, Diamond Simpson, Kylie Davis and Chantale Campbell at midfield, and Caroline Beaulne, Nour Ghoneim and Haisha Cantave up front. Unfortunately, coach Rosenfeld was forced to make an early substitution in just the 19th minute of the match, replacing an injured Caverly with left back Sophie Thérien.

Canada started the match brightly and created several chances within the first five minutes. First Davis received a pass in space, but her first-time shot was blocked by Panama ‘s goalkeeper Anyuri Montenegro . From the ensuing corner kick, a Panamanian defender nearly scored an own goal as her clearing effort looped just past the post.

Canada continued its early pressure and Nour Ghoneim nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but her hard shot was hit straight at Montenegro. One minute later, Canada ‘s early dominance was rewarded with a goal. Cantave ran onto a through ball, saw Montenegro rushing off her line, and intelligently hit a low chip from outside of the box that rolled into the empty goal.

Panama seemed overwhelmed by the early Canadian dominance, but Cantave’s early goal seemed to awaken them as they slowly began to get back into the match. In the 22nd minute, Canada’s D’Angelo needed to be sharp as she won the ball off a Panamanian attacker who had gotten away in the box.

Canada finally doubled its lead in the 37th minute through a great individual effort from Simpson. On a seemingly harmless play, Simpson charged down and blocked a Panamanian clearance attempt. Simpson then reacted first to the loose ball and placed a low drive into the bottom corner of the Panama goal.

Canada started the second half in the same dominant fashion that it had started the match. Cantave, who was having a very strong match, was at the centre of Canada ‘s early scoring opportunities. First, Cantave beat her defender down the right and pulled the ball back to an open Beaulne, but her effort flew well over the Panama goal. Next, Cantave slipped in Davis down the right side, Davis steadied herself and looked to play a return the pass to an open Cantave in the box but the Panama defence held firm and cleared the pass.

As the half wore on, Beaulne was causing the Panama defence fits with her mazy runs down the Canadian wing. In the 56th minute, Beaulne picked up the ball just inside the Panama half and made a beautiful 30-yard dash all the way into the Panama box where her low shot was well stopped by Montenegro .

In the 71st minute, midfielder Campbell stepped forward and hit a long drive that had Montenegro beaten, but went just over the cross bar.

Cantave continued her fine play in the 80th minute when she elected to shoot across goal after turning her defender in the Panama box, but Montenegro was equal to the hard shot, tipping the shot around her post and out for a corner.

Two minutes later, Simpson nearly scored her second, shooting just wide under heavy pressure, after being set up beautifully by Beaulne in Panama box.

Beaulne, the provider for many of Canada ‘s second half-chances, missed an excellent opportunity to score when she directed her header just wide from a Canadian corner kick.

Despite creating numerous second-half scoring chances, Canada was unable to capitalize beyond its 2-0 lead heading into the final minutes. Panama duly made things interesting, pulling a goal back in the 88th minute after a corner kick evaded D’Angelo in the Canadian goal and fell softly onto the head of Panama ‘s Lisbany Alveo.

Despite the late goal Canada defended well to comfortably close out the match and earn its second consecutive victory at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship.

Canada will complete Group 2 play against Mexico on Monday 15 March.

“Jamaica came out stronger than they did when we played them eight days ago,” said national head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. “They were stronger and put pressure on us. Eventually, we were able to break them down.”

Canada’s previous 4:1 victory over Jamaica was on 3 March at the Women’s Under-17 Four Nation Tournament in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.

For the opener of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, Rosenfeld’s starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Katherine Caverly at left back, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund at centre back, Ally Courtnall at right back, Kylie Davis, Diamond Simpson and Chantale Campbell at midfield, and Caroline Beauline, Nour Ghoneim and Haisha Cantave up front.

Canada attacked from the opening whistle, winning back-to-back corner kicks in the first few minutes. While Canada did not score on those first two opportunities, it did score on its third try. Following a great run down the wing by right back Courtnall , Canada won its third corner kick in the seventh minute. Campbell took the kick and Davis knocked it in for a 1-0 Canadian lead.

As the first half continued, Canada maintained plenty of possession. It had its fair share of chances, too. In the 10th minute, Beaulne broke in, but put her shot just wide. Then in the 15th minute, it was Simpson with a run, but she was stopped by the goalkeeper Shantel Graham.

In the 19th minute, Campbell struck a powerful shot from 25 yards out that hit the crossbar.

In the 32nd minute, Courtnall had another good run, but this time cut in and came down the centre. She nearly beat the goalkeeper Graham, but was tackled just in time.

In the 38th minute, Jamaica won what could have been a dangerous free kick, but the kick from 25 yards out was struck wide.

As the first half neared the end, Canada again forced Jamaica back on its heels. In the 42nd minute, Simpson and Davis combined well, but the return couldn’t meet an on-rushing Cantave. Just two minutes later, Davis in the penalty area played it perfectly over to Ghoneim who made no mistake for a 2-0 Canadian lead.

In the second half, it was more of the same as Canada continued its attack on Jamaica . Davis had the first good shot from close range in the 47th minute, but it was stopped by Graham. In the 54th minute, Beaulne got past the defence, but slipped before she could fire a shot. Then in the 58th minute, captain Setterlund fired a powerful shot that just went over the crossbar.

In the 63rd minute, Ghoneim made it 3-0 after taking a long pass from Caverly. Ghoneim made a touch to get around the goalkeeper and then fired it into the goal.

Up 3-0, Canada made its first of two substitutions, replacing Cantave for midfielder Sabrina Hémond. Canada’s second substitution was made shortly after it conceded the Jamaica goal, replacing Beaulne with Zakiya McIntosh.

Jamaica’s lone goal was scored in the 76th minute. A Jamaica long ball was played over the Canadian defence and won by Williams against an on-rushing D’Angelo. Williams stepped past a fallen D’Angelo and slid the ball into an empty net.

As for Canada’s fourth goal, it was scored in the 87th minute by Hémond.

“We stuck to the game plan and we played a great game,” said Canada’s first goal scorer Davis.

Canada now has two days of rest before it takes on Panama on Saturday 13 March. Canada’s third match of the group stage will be Monday 15 March.

Rosenfeld replaced coach Bridge whose contract expired at the end of the 2009 season.

Coach Rosenfeld has a long history with the Canadian Soccer Association. As a head coach, he led Canada to the quarter-final stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008. He previously served as a goalkeeper coach with the men’s national team during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2004.

As a player, Rosenfeld was a professional goalkeeper in the old Canadian Soccer League. He also won the 1986 Challenge Trophy as a member of the Hamilton Steelers. With the national team, he made one appearance with the full national team – a 1:1 draw with Honduras. At the youth level, he represented Canada at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Soviet Union 1985.

Jackson of Mississauga, ON wins the award for the first time.

“This is a fantastic achievement for Simeon,” said Canadian national head coach Stephen Hart. “He had an excellent club season and performed admirably at the national level. Full congratulations to Simeon.”

In 2009, the 22-year old striker helped Gillingham FC earn a promotion to League One in England. In the second half of the 2008-09 season, he scored nine goals in 25 League Two appearances, including three goals in the final two playoff matches to earn Gillingham FC the promotion for the 2009-10 season. It was on 23 May 2009 in front of 53,706 fans at Wembley Stadium that Jackson scored the winning goal of a Gillingham FC 1:0 victory over Shrewsbury to secure the promotion. Jackson scored on a header in the 91st minute of play.

Just one week later, he made his international debut with the Canadian national team in a 1:0 victory over Cyprus in Larnaka. Again, Jackson scored the lone goal of the match, this one the first of his international career.

Over the summer, Jackson represented Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He helped Canada reach the quarter-final stage. He was called up again in November for a pair of friendly matches in Europe, thus earning him seven national appearances by year’s end.

As for the start of the 2009-10 England League One season, Jackson has been in fine form through the first 18 games of the season. He has scored 10 goals including an opening-day hat trick against Swindon Town on 8 August. He scored two additional goals in League Cup matches against Plymouth and Premiership opponent Blackburn. The 25 August goal against Blackburn was Jackson’s second of the year against a Premiership opponent; his first was a 4 January 2009 goal against Aston Villa in FA Cup action.

Sinclair is female selection for Canadian Players of the Year award
Christine Sinclair is the female selection for the 2009 Canadian Players of the Year award. Sinclair was honoured in a vote shared by Canadian media (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Sinclair of Burnaby, BC wins the award for the fifth-consecutive year. Her 2009 co-winner – a selection from the men’s national team – will be announced on Friday.

“Christine is a superb leader for our national team,” said national head coach Carolina Morace. “I would like to pass along my full congratulations to her on yet another fine season.”

In 2009, Sinclair joined FC Gold Pride for the inaugural season of Women’s Professional Soccer. She led the team with six goals (tied for fifth in the league), 58 shots (third in the WPS) and 27 shots on goal (third in the WPS). Three of her goals came in three consecutive starts from 31 May to 17 June. She won WPS Player of the Week honours in Week 8 and was selected to the year-end WPS All-Star Team.

At the 2009 WPS All-Star Game on 30 August, Sinclair scored both second-half goals in a 4:2 victory over Umeå IK in St. Louis , MO.

At the international level, Sinclair scored four goals in seven games, leading her country in goals scored for the ninth time in 10 seasons. In each year of her international career she has scored at a rate of more than a goal for every two games played. Her four goals came in three consecutive games as Canada finished second at the 2009 Cyprus Women’s Cup, falling 1:3 in the final to England .

Sinclair is Canada’s all-time leader with 99 goals in 132 career appearances. In 2009, Sinclair passed Charmaine Hooper for most career starts (129) and tied Andrea Neil for most career appearances (132). Sinclair is also Canada ’s all-time leader with 11,706 minutes played.

Attakora, Stewart named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Nana Attakora and Chelsea Stewart have been named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year for the 2009 soccer season. The two stars were honoured in a vote shared by national-team coaches (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Stewart split her 2009 international season between Canada ’s national and U-20 teams. She made six appearances at the national level under new head coach Carolina Morace, making her debut on 5 March 2009 at the Cyprus Women’s Cup. At the women’s U-20 level, she made four appearances as Canada began preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010. She served as a team captain at the U-20 level.

The defender/midfielder from The Pas, MB split her club season between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Vanderbilt University . She played in 10 W-League games for the Whitecaps and 18 college games for Vanderbilt. She scored three goals for Vanderbilt.

As for Attakora, the North York , ON defender is now a two-time winner of the Canadian U-20 Player of the Year award. Like Stewart, he served as a Canadian captain at the U-20 level. In March, he represented Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. He made his 20th appearance at the U-20 level on 9 March 2009, a 2:0 victory over Mexico .

At the club level, Attakora played 20 games for Toronto FC during the 2009 Major League Soccer season. He recorded two goals and four assists. He also played in four Nutrilite Canadian Championship games, helping Toronto FC win the 2009 Voyageurs Cup.

Teibert, Raymer named Canadian U-17 Players of the Year
Canadian teenagers Russell Teibert and Abigail Raymer have been named Canadian U-17 Players of the Year for the 2009 soccer season. The two stars were honoured in a vote shared by national-team coaches (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Raymer is a member of Canada ’s women’s U-17 team. She took part in the Canadian team’s first camp in October as the team began preparations for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship in March. She started the 2009 season as a member of the Canadian Soccer Association’s National Training Centre in British Columbia , but also as part of Gordon Head Gold in the Lower Island Soccer Association’s 2008-09 Premier League. For the 2009-10 season, she joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prospects development team.

In July, the Victoria , BC striker won a bronze medal with British Columbia at the 2009 BMO National Championships Nutrilite All Stars U-16 girls competition in Richmond , BC . It was her second medal at the national championships, having previously won a gold at the 2007 Nutrilite All Stars U-14 competition in Longueuil , QC .

As for Teibert, the Niagara Falls , ON midfielder is now a two-time winner of the Canadian U-17 Player of the Year award. He split the 2009 season between the national U-17 team and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency side. He served as Canada ’s captain at the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship in Tijuana , Mexico . He scored Canada ’s first goal of the opening match, a 1:1 draw with Honduras . At the club level, he took part in Whitecaps Residency trips to USA (Dallas Cup), Germany and Spain . Teibert also scored one goal and added four assists in 14 matches during the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development season. He scored his first PDL goal on 5 June against the Seattle Wolves.

“From what I have seen in my scouting for the past ten months, this is a talented group of young soccer players,” said coach Bridge.

“The group, however, certainly lacks international experience. Only two players in the squad, Diamond Simpson and injured goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo were on Canada ’s team at last year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008.”

This will be the first women’s U17 camp organized for this age group. In 2009 Coach Bridge has watched and scouted thousands of players across the country. In particular at the 2009 BMO National Championships Nutrilite All Stars in Laval, QC (July), the 2009 Canada Games Women’s Soccer Tournament in Summerside, PE (August), the 2009 BMO National Championships adidas U16 Cup in Winnipeg, MB (October), and through the National Training Centres (January – October).

“We must very quickly become a team both on and off the field,” said Bridge. This is the primary goal for the camp.

“On the field, we must learn our roles and responsibilities and perform them at a high level. I will demand high intensity training, high quality technique, high levels of mental and tactical concentration every minute we are on the training field.”

Canada, whose title sponsor is BMO Financial Group, is working towards the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad & Tobago 2010. The team will feature players born in 1993 or later. To qualify for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, Canada must finish amongst the top-two teams at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship in March 2010. Canada won bronze at the last CONCACAF tournament in 2008 before reaching the quarter-final stage at the inaugural FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008.

Attakora-Gyan is a member of the Canadian U-20 team that has begun preparations for next year’s CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. He took part in all three U-20 camps, the first of which featured the anniversary rematch ag ainst Argentina at BMO Field in Toronto (a 1:1 draw on 11 May).

The Orangeville, ON defender is also a member of Major Le ag ue Soccer’s Toronto FC. In 2008, he played five games with the big club, making his MLS debut on 5 August 2008. He also took part in the inaugural 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship, although he did not feature in Toronto FC’s four games.

Filigno, meanwhile, split the 2008 season between the senior and U-20 teams. With the women’s U-20 team, whose title sponsor is Winners, she helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. She scored four goals in the tournament: a hat trick ag ainst Costa Rica in the group phase and the winning goal in the semi-final ag ainst Mexico . She then helped Canada win the Torneo 4-Naciones in Chile , scoring the lone goal in the final match of the round-robin tournament. Finally at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008, she scored one goal in two matches after missing the opener because of a knee injury.

With the Canadian national team, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck, Filigno made 20 appearances as a 17-year old rookie. She helped Canada win the Cyprus Cup in March, finish second at the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament in April, finish second at the Peace Queen Cup in June (albeit she left midway to join the U-20s), and reach the quarter-final stage of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. She started 12 of her 20 games and scored her first-ever goal against Trinidad & Tobago in April.

Teibert, Lam-Feist named Canadian U-17 Players of the Year
Canadian teenagers Russell Teibert and Monica Lam-Feist have been named Canadian U-17 Players of the Year for the 2008 soccer season. The two stars were honoured in a vote shared by national-team coaches (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Teibert is a member of the BMO Financial Group – Canadian men’s U-17 team. He took part in the Canadian team’s first camp in November as the team began preparations for the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship. He started the 2008 season as a member of the Canadian Soccer Association’s National Training Centre in Ontario , but also played briefly for TFC Academy ’s U-16 side. In August, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps residency program; in December, he traveled with the Whitecaps FC Residency squad to Japan .

The Niagara Falls midfielder also won a silver medal at the 2008 BMO National Championships All Stars in Brossard, QC . At the Canadian U-17 camp in Mexico , he scored one goal and one assist in four games against local club teams. He even wore the captain’s arm band for part of the trip.

As for Lam-Feist, she is now a two-time winner of the Canadian U-17 Player of the Year award. She actually only spent part of her season with the Canadian women’s U-17 team (whose title sponsor is BMO Financial Group) as she spent most of it one level up with the women’s U-20 team (whose title sponsor is Winners). In June, she helped Canada win the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Puebla , Mexico . She scored in each of the two opening matches. In September, she helped Canada with the Torneo 4-Naciones in Melipilla, Chile . In November, she scored two goals for Canada at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008.

The Surrey, BC forward also got to play briefly with the national team, taking part in the team’s trip to China in January for the Four Nations Tournament. While she did not feature, she was the youngest player called into the national team this past season.